Iran, Algeria to Discuss OPEC-style Gas Group
August 10th, 2008
As reported by Reuters, Iran and Algeria are expected to discuss the formation of an OPEC-style gas group during a visit by Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to Tehran. As the article notes: “… Iran wants to turn the previously toothless Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) into a more formal organization akin to the Organization of […]
Read more »Russia’s Chess Match in The Middle East & North Africa
August 1st, 2008
From The National, an interesting analysis of Russia’s recent diplomatic and trade activities in the Middle East and North Africa in a bid to enhance its geopolitical clout and gain access to, and at least partial control over, the region’s oil and gas reserves. As the article notes: “…Among the former global superpower’s tactics: linking […]
Read more »African Investment: Driven by Terrain?
July 21st, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an excellent analysis of how the rugged terrain of Sub-Saharan Africa prevents industrialization and modern infrastructure from taking hold and engenders chronic political instability. As a result, the article notes, most foreign investment goes to resource extraction, especially offshore projects protected from the disruptions that are rife on land: “…Foreign direct […]
Read more »Gazprom, Libya, and Possibility of a Gas OPEC
May 7th, 2008
Via Robert Amsterdam, a very insightful look into recent activities by Gazprom, Libya, and possibility of a Gas OPEC. While some analysts have been skeptical about a possible gas cartel given the regional markets aspect of natural gas (which means that prices on the spot market could never be manipulated by production quotas as they […]
Read more »Quick Flip? Oil-Rich Nations Use More Energy, Reducing Exports
December 9th, 2007
Via The New York Times, a very interesting article on how the economies of many big oil-exporting countries are growing so fast that their internal need for energy is reducing the amount they can sell abroad, adding new strains to the global oil market. This growth, if it continues, would see several of the world’s […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.